This arch, built in the 3rd century AD, is the most famous and best preserved of all Lincoln’s Roman monuments. Through this gate legions left the upper city to begin their march north to York along Ermine Street. You can get a better idea of the level of the Roman road by looking at the level of the path that goes through the pedestrian arch.*
It is the only surviving Roman gate in Britain open to traffic, acting as a gateway to the historic core of the city, as it has done for almost two millennia.
The north gate was built in the early 3rd century and spanned Ermine Street, the colonia’s most important thoroughfare. This was also the main London to York road.
In the 4th century, the colonia’s defensive walls and gates were massively strengthened, in line with its status as a new provincial capital and centre of Roman civilisation. At its grandest, the north gate consisted of a central carriageway with pedestrian arches to either side, topped by an upper storey and flanked by tall semi-circlular towers.
What is visible above the road today is only the upper section of the central arch from the inner wall of the gate. The outer wall was demolished in the 1700s. The base of the western gate tower can be seen in the excavation, which also shows the Roman street level. In Roman times, the whole structure would have stood about 8 metres (26 feet) above ground.
The gate did not, as far as we know, face serious attack whilst under Roman control. However it has survived numerous assaults since, from medieval knights in the 13th century to delivery lorries in the 20th. Because of recent vehicle damage, steel pins have been inserted to hold the masonry in place.**
The damage that the lorry caused in 1964. Repairs cost £1595. - image from signboard next to the gate
*From Pitkin Lincoln City Guidebook
**From a signboard next to the gate
These are superb ancient Roman arches Cherie and i like the way that you framed the three pictures…
as for the Humber Warehouse lorry driver… he messed up big time….peter:)
It is a fabulous arch.
What a good job they were able to fix the mess made by the careless driver!!
I wonder what toll all the traffic takes on this magnificnet arch, Cherie – even if it doesn’t get stuck like that lorry!
I am sure it is carefully monitored these days.
Great care has been given by the ‘local authority’. Nice to see a practical example.
It is always good to look after your tourist attractions
and history 
Fascinating, isn’t it, to just stand there on those stones, touch that arch and you’re transported back all those years. Similar in Whitby Abbey graveyard.
Whitby is the home of my ancestors. The male side of my family
I never realised that the arch was damaged in such a way … Protected by the Romans, destroyed by a 1960’s delivery van !
I once tried to get a photo of the arch on my first visit but gave up due to the background through the arch. It’s nice to see how it can be done here though with an angle, good job.
Thank you
The arch does pose a challenge, especially with all the cars lined up the street spoiling the view.
I look forward to seeing your photos of the arch when you next visit